Harness.



G; K. WBNIG.

HARNESS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3 1907.

Patented Dec. 15,1908.

GEORGE K. WENIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HARNESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed June 3, 1907. Serial No. 377,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. WENIG, a citizen of the United States,residin at 241 West Sixteenth street, in the cit of hicago, county ofCook, and State of llinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harness, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to harness and has particular reference to theconnection between the trace and the whiflie-tree.

More particularly my invention has reference to improvements in thatportion of said connection known as the D The object of m invention isto provide a harness which shal have a yielding connection between thetrace and whiffle tree.

A further object is to provide a yielding connection between the traceand whiflie tree which shall be strong and durable, and which ma bereadily used to replace the ordinary D wit out necessitating anyalteration in the rest of the harness or the draft gear of the wagon.

Further objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the harnesshereinafter described and particularly set forth in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the portion of the harness embodying myinvention, and Fig. 2 is a similar view artially in section,illustrating the springs s ightly compressed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the trace connected to the yoke,2 of the D in the ordinary manner, 3 indicates the D proper whichcomprises the stems, 44 connected by the portion, 5. The stems, 4, areconnected at their free ends to the yoke, 2-, by nuts, 6, and arerovided near their opposite ends with shoul ers 7.

8, 8, 8, 8 indicate the links by which the D is attached to the end of awhifile tree. Instead of being connected to the part, 5 of the D, theyare connected to a bar, 9, slidably arranged upon the stems, 4. The bar,9, is bent as shown forming a notch, or recess, 10 for the link, 8,keeping the same centered,

to e ualize the pull on the bar; and to permit the ar to approach nearerto the yoke, 2 forrnin a compact device. ends of the bar, 9, and theshoulders, 7, are interposed springs, 11. These are the ordinary coilslprings and are arranged about the stems, 4. t is obvious that anystrain or shock exerted upon the chain or links will be communicated tothe trace through the springs, 11, only, thus avoiding any sudden shocksto the horse. I surround the springs, 11, with a tubular casing, 12.This is connected to the bar, 9 in any suitable manner and movestherewith, sufficient distance being provided between the shoulders, 7and the portion, 5, to permit enough movement thereof. It will be seen,by reference to the drawings, that the springs are securely incased,hence are protected from grit and dirt. These casings, 12 also preventanything being caught between the coils of thes prings.

The yielding connecting device, shown and described, is strong anddurable, and is of such size that it may readily replace the ordinary DWithout changing any portion of the harness or wagon.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is,

1. In a harness, a yoke adapted to be secured to the trace, a D-sha edmember secured to said oke, a bar s idably arranged upon said D- apedmember and having a centrally disposed notch, springs resisting themovement of said bar and links for connecting said bar to a whiflietree,one of said links engaging said notch, substantially as described.

2. In a harness a yoke ada ted to be secured to the end of a trace andaving its ends extending beyond the edges thereof, a D shaped membercomprising a pair of parallel stems secured to the ends of said yoke andconnected at the opposite ends by an integral D shaped member, a barslidably mounted on said stems at the o posite end from said D shapedportion, coliars on said D shaped member at the base of the stemportions, springs interposed between said sliding bar and said collars,spring casings fixed to the ends of said sliding bar and surroundingsaid Between the springs and said collars, there being sufiicientdistance between said collars and said D sha ed portion to permit am lemovement of t e casings and a plurality 0 links for con- I 5 nectingsaid bar to a whiffle-tree, said bar be- Witnesses:

ing notched to hold said links centrally, sub- F. E. SHEEHY,

stantially as described. H. S. AUsTIN.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

- GEORGE K. WENIG.

